Book

Breakfast of Champions (Kurt Vonnegut) - con

Book

Madame Bovary (Gustave Flaubert) - PRO

Book

Hard Times (Charles Dickens) - pro

Book

Far from the Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy) - pro/PRO

Tony Predictions

I know most of my readers are probably in a hectic race against the clock, getting the dip and the soda in order before their guests start arriving for their Tony party, so I'll be brief.

In the "Should have been a contender" category, I've mostly noted off-Broadway shows that are inexplicably ineligble at the exclusive Tonys. Also, I've only seen one of the nominated musicals, so I'm not bothering to go into their acting categories--- well, except to say that Victoria Clark will definitely take home the Best Actress statue.

MUSICAL

Will Win: Monty Python's Spamalot

Should Win: Probably A Light in the Piazza, but again, I haven't seen it.

Should have been a contender: Shockheaded Peter

PLAY

Will Win: Doubt

Should Win: Doubt, although, this is by far the strongest this category has been in years, and all of the other three (The Pillowman, Gem of the Ocean, and Democracy) are nearly as worthy.

Should have been a contender (and won): Thom Pain (Based on Nothing)--- a once-in-a-lifetime theatrical experience.

BEST ACTOR-PLAY

Will Win: James Earl Jones, On Golden Pond

Should Win: Probably Jones (haven't seen him), but Bill Irwin rocks. And Brian F. O'Byrne rolls.

Should have been a contender: Ethan Hawke, Hurlyburly

BEST ACTRESS-PLAY

Will Win: Cherry Jones, Doubt

Should Win: I love you, Cherry, but Phylicia Rashad (Gem of the Ocean) was incandescent. Both of you have won before, anyway, so it's no big deal.

Should have been a contender (and most underrated performance of the season): Natasha Richardson, A Streetcar Named Desire.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR-PLAY

Will Win: I think we're looking at an Alan Alda evening.

Should Win: Haven't seen Glengarry, but Alda tore it up in The Aviator and The West Wing this year--- and since he's pushing 70, let's give this guy some love.

Should have been a contender: The cute newspaper boy in Streetcar. Sure he has about three lines, but there are certainly worse ways to wait out a rainstorm.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS-PLAY

Will Win: Adriene Lenox, Doubt, bless my soul.

Should Win: Mirielle Enos, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is the definitive Honey, to which future Honeys will forever be compared.

Should have been a contender: Hally Gross, who gets molested by Ethan Hawke and Bobby Canavale in Hurlyburly. What NYU freshmen will do for a buck.